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California Notary Public Exam
Contains Questions with Verified Answers
Passing Score: 94.67%.
The exam consists of 45 multiple-choice questions & Possible Questions to be Tested
- What forms of satisfactory evidence can you use to identify a signer for a jurat? A. One credible witness B. Tribal ID C. CA state driver's license, 3 years expired D. All of the above Answer D. All of the above.
- A Notary is prohibited from advertising his or her notarial services under what circumstances? A. The Notary is advertising in a foreign lang. B. The Notary is an attorney C. The Notary is an immigration specialist D. The Notary is a private employee Answer C. The Notary is an immigration specialist.
- Which of the following statements describes a felony offense? A. Knowingly making false statements in a notarial certificate B. Destruction, defacement, or concealment of Notary records or papers C. Impersonating or acting as a Notary without a valid commission D. Making a false statement to a Notary in relation to a grant deed Answer D. Making a false statement to a Notary in relation to a grant deed.
- Your employer paid for your Notary commission and your bond. She asks you to notarize only business documents while you are at work. What type of provision is this Answer A Limited Service Agreement
- You are notarizing a document for a personal friend. Which of the following must be included in your journal? A. Signer's name B. Signer's address C. Notary fee D. Length of time you have known that friend Answer C. Notary fee
- Karen needs to acknowledge her signature on a document. Upon scanning the document, however, the Notary notices that the document is missing a safe deposit box number. Since Karen was in a hurry, she left the number at home. She assures the Notary that she will fill it in when she gets home. Can the Notary notarize the document Answer No, the document is incomplete.
B. $1,000 fine C. $2,500 fine
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D. Commission suspension Answer D. Commission suspension. ($750 was not an option)
- A Notary was found guilty of a misdemeanor. For which of the following was the Notary most likely prosecuted? A. Failing to make family support payments B. Failing to remit any court ordered judgment to the Sec. of State C. Acting as a Notary without a valid commission Answer C. Acting as a Notary without a valid commission
- On which document may you NOT perform a proof of execution? A. Trustee's Deed B. Quitclaim Deed C. Demand Letter D. Business Contract Answer B. Quitclaim Deed (may NEVER use real estate related docs or power of attorney)
- Mr. and Mrs. Smith come into your office asking for jurats on three affi- davits they have both signed. One of the affidavits pertains to Mrs. Smith's pension with the school district where she works. One affidavit deals with consent to travel for their daughter. The third affidavit deals with items that were stolen from Mr. and Mrs. Smith's car. Mrs. Smith presents an expired CA driver's license that was issued in March of 2018. Mr. Smith presents his Nevada nondriver's ID, which is current. What is the maximum fee you may charge? a. $
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Answer D. All of the above.
- A Notary's commission expired on Oct 10, 2024. She renewed her com- mission before her old commission expired, and the new commission began on Oct 11, 2024. Since she has a new commission with a new commission number, which of the following should the Notary do? A. a new journal for the new commission number
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B. Keep using the same journal C. Start a new journal to keep at home and leave one at the office D. Record notarizations on a new sheet of paper Answer B. Keep using the same journal
- A notary may only certify a copy of a journal item entry upon receipt of which of the following A. A subpoena B. A court order C. A written request by the Sec. of State D. All of the above Answer D. All of the above
- Which of the following is a statutory administrative penalty for negligent failure to perform the duties and responsibilities required of a Notary? A. Commission suspension and a $1,000 fine B. Commission suspension and a fine of up to $ C. Commission revocation and a $1,500 fine D. Commission denial and a $1,500 fine Answer B. Commission suspension and a fine of up to $750. (key word:negligent)
- A proof of execution by subscribing witness may be performed on a A. Deed of reconveyance B. Quitclaim deed C. Security agreement D. Deed of trust Answer A. Deed of reconveyance. (also trustee's deed of foreclosure as these do not require thumbprints)
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B. They do not need Live Scan Fingerprinting if their commission does not lapse. C. They do need Live Scan Fingerprinting unless they get a letter from an attorney saying they do not need to Live Scan Fingerprint again. D. They do not need Live Scan Fingerprinting if they have been a Notary for more than four terms. Answer A. They must get Live Scan Fingerprinting every time they recommission
- A commissioned Notary Public embezzled funds from their employer.Their employer discovered the embezzlement and did not want to officially file charges, instead the Notary and the employer agreed that the Notary would pay back the funds over time and the Notary signs a document agreeing to these terms. What is the maximum penalty for this violation? A. $750 B. $1500 C. $ D. $ Answer B. $
*Willful failure to discharge fully and faithfully any of the duties or responsibilities required of a Notary Public.
- If you request a new Certificate of Authorization, the State of California must respond within A. One month B. 5 days C. One year D. 30 days Answer B. 5 days
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- If a notary willingly and knowingly notarizes a real estate document that they know to be fraudulent, they are guilty of a Answer Felony (misdemeanor + real estate)
- When do you officially become a Notary Answer When your oath and bond are filed.
- The fine for overcharging for a non-immigration form is A. up to $ B. up to $ C. up to $75, D. up to $ Answer D. up to $
- The fine for failing to notify the State that your stamp or journal was lost is A. up to $ B. up to $ C. up to $ D. up to $ Answer C. up to $
- What is the fine for failing to post signs in English and in the other language that you use that you are not an attorney and cannot give legal advice Answer Up to $1500 fine and at least one year suspension of commission and on second time - revocation of commission for life.
- Your commission is dated 9/1/05 and you get your oath filed on 9/25/05. Your commission will expire A. Immediately B. 8/31/
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C. Journal entry requested by a member of the public D. Limited power of attorney Answer C. Journal entry requested by a member of the public. (must be plain photocopy)
- Maria is a commissioned notary public, her principal place of business is in Truckee, California. Accordingly, Maria filed her oath and bond at the Nevada County Clerk's office in Nevada County, California. Maria often travels to South Lake Tahoe, in El Dorado County, to perform notarial acts for residents there. Her friend Patrick asks her to come to his home in Stateline, Nevada, to
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perform an acknowledgment on a document to be filed in El Dorado County.
A. Maria must refuse to perform the acknowledgment in the State of Nevada. B. Maria must note the venue on the notarial wording. C. Maria must use satisfactory evidence when performing the notarization. D. Maria must ensure the document will be filed in California. Answer A. Maria must refuse to perform the acknowledgment in the State of Nevada.
"A CA Notary may complete an acknowledgment certificate prescribed by or used in a U.S. state or jurisdiction other than CA only if the document will be filed outside of CA."
- Jim is a paralegal and works at the law offices of Smith and Smith. His employer asks him to become a Notary public and pays for his education, supplies and filing fees. Jim agrees and becomes a commissioned Notary Public. His employer has him sign an agreement that says he will not charge any fees to the law office for Notarial services and will remit any fees from clients to the law office. Jim's sister asks him to come over to acknowledge an Interspousal Transfer Deed she signed.
A. Jim may notarize this document and keep the fees B. Jim may notarize this document and must remit the fees to his employer C. Jim may not notarize this document D. Jim may notarize this document but, may not charge any fees Answer A. Jim may notarize this document and keep the fees.
- Notaries can withhold services
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document is theirs.
- What is the maximum fee a Notary may charge by law for administering an oath for a deposition Answer $
- Must a Notary make the copy when certifying a copy of a power of attor- ney Answer No, but the Notary should make or supervise the making of the copy so they know it is exact.
- May a Notary certify a photocopy of a birth certificate Answer No. Vital Records are only certified by specifically appointed agencies.
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- Can a California Notary complete a Florida jurat certificate that will be filed out of state Answer No. Jurats always require California-specific wording.
- A Notary was fined $10,000 for willfully stating as true a material fact in an acknowledgment certificate, knowing that the information was false. The penalty is a result of an action brought by whom Answer Public Prosecutor
- In order to provide a member of the public with a copy of a journal item entry, a California Notary must require a written request containing what information Answer WHO signer was WHAT type of document WHEN month and year of notarization
- A signer brings you a document from out of state. The document will be filed in New York.The acknowledgment wording is as follows "On today's date before me, [Name of Notary], personally appeared John Smith, attorney-in-fact of Mary Smith, known to me..."
As a California Notary, can you use the wording provided or do you need to attach a CA acknowledgment certificate form Answer Since the wording mentions representative capacity, use a CA certificate form.
- California acknowledgment wording must be used for all documents filed in Answer The State of California
- May a notary notarize for a grantor Answer Yes, the notary is not the grantor.
- When a credible witness is used, the credible witness's primary function is
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Jim's sister is not a client - Jim is notarizing on his own time.
- A commissioned Notary is presented with a handwritten letter to notarize. In the journal what does the Notary record as the character of the document?-
Answer Handwritten Letter
- Can a California Notary notarize a death certificate Answer No, a notary cannot notarize a death certificate because death certificates are vital records, and notaries are not authorized to certify copies of vital records.
- A notary can certify a copy of a power of attorney according to the Answer Probate Code
- If you give up your journal to a proper authority, you must notify the Secretary of State within Answer 10 days
- Your 4-year Notary bond is worth Answer $15,
- The statute of limitations for making a statement known to be false is Answer 4 years
- An ID needs the holder's Answer Physical description Photograph Signature Serial number
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- If you fail to file the oath and bond on time Answer your commission is void you must pay $20 to reapply you must complete a new application
- A Military Notary Answer Charges no fees
- A person who is not commissioned and holds herself out as a notary is Answer Guilty of a misdemeanor
MISuse tools = MISdemeanor
- A notary must respond to a request for a transaction within days. Answer 15
- The only documents that do not require a seal are Answer Subdivision maps
Stamp will not stick to plastic
- If a person has no right thumb and a thumbprint is needed Answer Use any finger. Make a note in journal. Use the left thumb.
- The most frequently completed form is Answer Acknowledgement
